Daylight loading developing tank



Feb. 25, 1941. M. K. BECHER DAYLIGHT LOADING DEVELOPING TANK Filed July 8, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Max Ku T BECHER ATTORNEY.

Feb. 25, 1941. BECHER 2,232,763

DAYLIGHT LOADING DEVELOPING TANK Filed July 8, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. gfy'fi Mex K RT BE HER ATTORNEY.

Feb. 25, 1941. M. K. BECHER 2,232,763

DAYLIGHT LOADING DEVELOPING TANK Filed July 8, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Max' Km BECHER ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

' The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a daylight loading developing tank particularly intended for 35 mm. film.

The invention has for an object the construction of a relatively small developing tank which may be loaded in daylight, to entirely eliminate the need for a dark room, and which'may be easily loaded without damage to the film.

The invention also proposes a construction utilizing a spiral filmspool upon which the fllm is engaged, and an arrangement whereby the filmspool may be agitated through manual means or by the use of a motor, to avoid blisters or bubbles forming on the film during the developing operation.

Still further the invention proposes a specific arrangement of the fllmspool, and a specific construction of a tank, so that the tank requires only approximately 4 ozs. oi liquid in developing, fixing, washing, etc.

More specifically the invention contemplates characterizing the daylight loading developing tank by the use of a follower means operable from the outside of the tank and associated with a mechanism capable of gripping the inner end of the film and drawing or pulling the film along the grooves of the filmspool to engage the film thereon.

Still further the invention contemplates the use of means adjacent the filmspool operating simultaneously with the follower means mentioned in the previous paragraph for assisting in engaging the film upon the filmspool.

Another object of this invention is to synchronize the operations of the mechanisms mentioned in the last two paragraphs to facilitate the engagement of the film upon the films'pool.

Still further the invention contemplates the construction of a spiral filmspool dry wiper capable of wiping the grooves of the filmspool so that the spool may be dried immediately after use and be ready for reuse.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part oi this disclosure:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a daylight loading developing tank constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the device taken on the line 3-3 oi Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the filmspool, per se.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view looking of the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a spiral filmspool dry wiper constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line ll--H of Fig. 10.

The daylight loading developing tank in accordance with this invention includes a lightprooi tank I! having a removable lightproof cover [3 and also having a light-proof inlet I4, a lightproof outlet l5, and a ligh tproof film cartridge holder I6. The base portion of the tank I2 is of semicylindrical form so as to conform with the bottom portion of the filmspool used in the device, and so reduce the quantity of liquid necessary to be placed in the tank to fill it to a desired level. The details of lightproofing the Junction of the tank, the cover, and the film cartridge holder will not be given in this specification since similar tanks are now in general use having such lightproofing junctions.

The tank I2 is shown supported by several legs ll so that it may be rested on a bench or other fiat surface. The ligh-tproof inlet l4 includes a funnel located near the top of the tank into which liquid may be poured. It is connected with a horizontal extending portion I 41) having several baffle plates [8 extended in opposite directions and mounted on opposite walls so as to hinder passage of light. The horizontal portion Mb at its remote end connects with an opening I9 conmeeting with the interior of the tank. The arrangement is such that liquid may be poured into the funnel and reach the interior of the tank. At the same time light will be excluded. The outlet l5 comprises merely a pipe controlled by a valve 20.

The film cartridge holder l6 includes a removin the direction able cover Ila which is movably mounted upon one end of the tank l2. Within this cover there is a half round holder 2| adapted to receive and hold the film cartridge 22. This holder 2| is mounted upon a strip 23 which is connected at its ends and spaced from another strip 24. This latter strip 24 is directly mounted upon the side of the tank I 2.

The film cartridge holder is provided with a turning mechanism at one end by which the film cartridge may be manually turned to rewind the dim if necessary. This winding means includes a stem 25 extending through one side of the cartridge holder l6 and at its outer end being provided with a turning knob 26. At its inner end it is provided with a slotted head 21. This knob 33 may be moved inwards so that the slotted head. engages the diametric pin of the core of the film cartridge.

At the other side oi the film cartridge holder 13 there is another stem 23 engaging through the side thereof. This stem is provided with a knob 29 at its outer end by which it may be manipulated. This inner end is provided with a cam 33, see Figure 5. This cam 30 is adapted to operate the catch 3| of a Leica film cartridge. The half round holder 2| is provided with a slot 32 through which the spring 3| of the Leica catch extends. The cam 30 is adapted to engage the spring 3| for releasing the core of the Leica film cartridge. When other film cartridges are used it is only necessary to operate the turning means 25, 25, 21 when it is desired to rewind the film.

The spiral fiimspool is rotatively mounted in the tank It. This filmspool includes a pair of spiral discs 33 and 34 held in relatively fixed coaxially spaced positions. This is accomplished by several studs 35 fixedly mounted on one of the discs and having their outer ends engaging into openings 36 formed in the other of the discs. Flanges 31 are formed on the studs 35 to hold the discs 33 and 34 in a fixed spaced position. Small screws 33 engage through the disc 34 and threadedly engage the outer ends of the studs 35 for holding the parts of the filmspooi connected together as a fixed unit.

The filmspool disc 34 at its center and at its outer side is provided with a tubular member 39 which is threadedly engaged by a hollow shaft 40 extending through one side of the tank I! and rotatively supported by a bearing 4|. The spiral disc 33 is provided with a tubular stud 42. and its outer end engages a half bearing 43 mounted upon one wall of the tank i2. Thus the filmspool is rotatively supported.

A means is provided, operable from the outside of the tank l2 for rotating the filmspool. This means includes a pulley 44 fixedly mounted at the extended end of the shaft 40. By turning the pulley 44 the filmspool is rotated.

Another means is provided operable from the outside of the tank for fixedly holding the fi1mspool when desired. This means includes a screw 45 engaged through the pulley 44 and threadedly engaging a tubular socket 46 mounted upon one wall of the tank l2. When the screw 45 is removed, then the pulley 44 is free to be rotated.

A shaft 41 is disposed coaxial of the filmspool 33, 34 and between the discs thereof. The shaft has a reduced end 410. engaging into the tubular stud 42. The shaft 41 has its other end engaging into an opening 43 formed coaxial in disc 34. This latter end of the shaft 41 is provided with a. central bore 49. A pin 50 is transversely mounted on this end of the shaft 41' and extends diametrically through the bore 49.

A means is provided operable from the outside of the tank I! for rotating the shaft". This means includes a shaft 51 coaxially extending through the shaft 40, and its inner end being provided with a slot 52 adapted to receive the pin 50. The shaft 5| is adapted to extend into the bore 49. A pulley 53 is fixed upon the extended end of the shaft 5|. The arrangement is such that the pulley 53 may be pulled outwards to remove the shaft 5| from its position.

A follower device or means is mounted upon the shaft 41 for moving along the spirals of the filmspool. This follower means includes tubes 54 diametrically mounted through the shaft 41 located between the discs 33 and 34. Preferably these tubes are square in cross section. These tubes are engaged by square rods 55, in a way so that the rods are slidabie. A member 55 is fixedly mounted on the outer ends of the rods 55. and the ends of this member engage the grooves of the discs 33 and 34. The arrangement is such that when the shaft 41 is turned in one direction the member 55 follows the grooves on the sides of the discs 33 and 34 inwards. and when turned in the other direction the member 56 will move outwards.

A catch is mounted upon the follower means for holding the outer end of the film, which is to be developed, and this catch includes a bracket 51 mounted upon the member 56 and pivotally supporting a lever 58. The member 56 comprises a sheet of material bent upon itself, to be of channel shape, see Fig. 3. This permits the end of the filmto be engaged between the arms of the member 55. The lever 58 is provided with a pin 59 which engages into openings in the member 55 and is adapted to puncture the film and so hold the end of the film. An expansion spring 60 acts between the bracket 51 and the lever 58 for holding the lever in a position in which the pin 59 is operative.

At one point upon the periphery the discs 33 and 34 of the filmspool, there are openings 5| representing the outer extremities of the grooves of the discs. The arrangement is such that the member 55 when reaching these openings 5| may be pulled upwards and out from its position between the discs 33 and 34. Attention is called to Fig. 9 in which the member 56 is shown formed with reduced ends 56a. It is these reduced ends which engage the grooves of the discs 33 and 34.

A means is provided adjacent the filmspool for pushing the film which is to be developed onto the filmspool or pulling the film off the film cartridge, and this means is synchronized with and operates simultaneously with the follower means previously described. The pushing means or pulling means includes film sprockets B2 fixed on a shaft 83 rotatively mounted upon the tank l2. This shaft 53 has one of its end 6311 extended through the side of the tank l2. This extended end is provided with a pulley 64 held in various longitudinal positions upon the end 63a by a suitable setscrew 55. The end of the shaft 53a is provided with a handle 63 by which it may be turned. A flexible and resilient belt 51, preferably of rubber, is engaged upon the pulley 54 and is adapted to engage over the pulley 53 or the pulley 44 depending upon the position of the pulley 54 on the end 63a. of the shaft. The arrangement is such that by turning the handle 56 it is possible to dry the pulleys 53 and 44 for operating the device.

A certain proportion is necessary between the sizes oi the pulleys 84 and 53. The proportion should be such that the follower means tends to draw the outer end of the film upon the filmspool at a slightly greater speed then the peripheral speed of the pusher or pulling means, which includes the sprockets 62. The film is of standard construction having its edges perforated into which the sprockets 62 engage. The diameters of the pulleys 64 and 53 are such that as the follower means reaches its innermost position within the filmspool it is then moving at a slightly greater speed than the pusher or' pulling means, that is the sprockets 62'. With this arrangement the film when engaged on the filmspool will always be tight upon the inner face of the spiral grooves of the filmspool. It is readily seen that it would be objectionable if the sprockets 32 fed the film too rapidly since then it would accumulate at an area before it engages upon thefilmspool. 1

Thediscs 33 and 34 are separated from each other, a distance so that the edges of the film engaged their grooves. A film leading tube 68 is turnable mounted on the rod 69 mounted fixedly across the sides of the tank i2. This film leading tube 63 is immediately adjacent the sprockets 62 and is adapted to hold the film so that its perforations continually engage the teeth of the sprockets. An electric motor 10 is associated with the developing tank and is provided with a pulley H over which a belt 12 engages. This belt is adapted to engage the pulley 44 for driving the filmspool during the developing operation. This is a substitute for the manual operation obtainable by rotating the handle 66.

There is a device for cutting the inner end of the film from the film cartridge, after the film has been completely wound upon the filmspool. This cutting means includes a. knife blade 15 slidably supported in tracks 16 mounted between the strips 23 and 24. The knife blade 15 is connected with a rod 11 which extends up through a member 18 mounted upon the top of the film cartridge holder IS. A cap 19 is depressibly mounted on the tube 18. The upper end of the rod 11 threadedly engages the closed top end of the cap. The open bottom end of the cap engages the side wall of the tube 18.

An expansion spring 30 is mounted within the cap and acts between the cap and the tube 18 for holding the knife 15 in a raised position. Immediately behind the knife 15 there is an opening 3i in the side of the tank I2. It is through this opening that the film must pass. A rubber strip 82 is mounted upon the back side of the knife 15 and is capable of closing the opening 8! when the knife is in a completely lowered position. A pin 83 is mounted upon the cap 19 and works in a bayonet slot 84 formed in the side of the tube 13. The arrangement is such that after the cap 19 has been fully depressed, the cap I9 may be slightly turned to engage the pin 83 in the offset bottom end of the slot 84 for holding the knife 15 in its lowered position, in which position the strip 82 closes the opening 8! The operation of the device is as follows:

In order to develop the film whichhas been exposed and which is contained in the conventional film cartridge, it is first necessary that the covers i3 and lBa be removed. Then the film cartridge is placed upon the half round cartridge holder 2|. The extended end of the film is passed through the opening 8i and then is engaged between the film leading tube 68 and the sprockets 62. Then the end of the film is placed in between the arms of the members 56 and the lever 53 and is moved downwards so that the pin 59 punctures the film and grips the film. The dot and dash lines 85 in Fig. 3 indicate the film in this condition. It

The belt 61 is now engaged over the pulley 3i and over the pulley 64. The handle 66 may now be turned for driving the sprockets 82 and the shaft 41.

As the shaft 41 turns the follower means moves inwards along the grooves of the discs 33 and 34 pulling along the film 85. Simultaneously the sprockets 52 function to pull the film from the cartridge, and to assist in pushing the film upon the filmspool. The follower means tends to operate at a faster rate of peripheral speed than the sprocket means 62 so that the film is drawn upon the inner edges of the grooves of the discs 33 and 34. The belt 61 slips, as required at times when the follower means is driven to travel faster, relative to the pusher means. After the film has been completely engaged upon the filmspool the cap 19 is pushed downwards to cause the knife 15 to cut oif the inner end of the film. Then the filmspool is turned slightly further so that the free outer end of the film is now wound upon the filmspool. With this done the follower means is turned slightly backwards so .as to loosen the wound film in the grooves of the discs 33 and 34 to cause the edges of the film to engage the outer sides of the grooves. This is necessary to move away the emulsion side of the film from the grooves so that the film may be developed completely to its edges.

The shaft Si is now removed and the screw 45 is removed. The filmspool is now rotated. It may be manually rotated by engaging the flexible belt 61 upon the pulley 44, or the motor Hlmay be used to drive the pulley 44. developing, and then washing, and then fixing liquids, etc. are selectively engaged into the de-- veloping tank, and removed from the tank, as required, as is usual with the developing of film. When the film has been completely developed the cover i3 is removed and the filmspool removed from the tank. Thediscs 33 and 34 of the filmspool are now separated and the film is removed.

If it is desired to immediately develop another film' it is required that the discs 33 and 34 be dried, particularly the grooves of these discs, since if these grooves are not wiped and an attempt is made to engage the film thereon, the film emulsion will become pasty and cause trouble. In Figs. 10 and 11 a spiral filmspool dryer has been illustrated. This dryer includes a means for supporting the spiral disc 33 (or 34). The supporting means includes a plate upon which the d sc is placed. This plate is provided with several catches to engage the edges of the disc to hold the disc in position. Each catch has a pivotally mounted arm 9|, one end of which is provided with friction material 92 engageable with the disc 33 (or 34) and the other end of the arm is associated with an expansion spring ll operating to force the friction material I! llainst the edge of the disc 38.

A follower means also is provided for moving along the spiral of the spiral discs. This follow-- or means includes a rod 04 having a stud II at its bottom end threadedly engaging a stem ll encasin coaxiaily through the disc II and through the plate 00. A square tube ll engages transversely through the rod OI. A square rod ll engages into the tube II. This rod II at its outer end is provided with an opening ll through which a tube I" passes. The tube I" is held in various vertical positions by a setscrew IOI which engages through the end of the rod ll.

A pointed element l! projects from the tube I". A spring I" is mounted within the tube and normally tends to urge the pointed element III downwards. A handle I is mounted on the pointed element II! and extends out through an opening ill formed in the tube ill! by which the pointed element may be manually manipulated. A piece of chamois I is engaged upon the extremity of the pointed element In and engages into the grooves of the disc 33.

The tube ll fits to a block Ili'l adjustably mounted on a vertical rod I", and held in fixed positions by a set screw Ill. The rod I" is mounted upon a platform illi. This platform is also provided with a ball bearing Iii rotatively supporting the stern I. The lower end of the stem I. is provided with a bevel gear ii! meshing with a gear Ill mounted upon a shaft Ill rotatively supported and extending out through the body Ill, which supports the platform llli. A handle II. is mounted upon the extended end of the shaft Ill. A knurled knob H1 is mounted upon the end of the rod .4.

The spiral filmspool dry wiper as illustrated in Fig. is used as follows:

The pointed element with the chamois Hil is engaged into the outer end of the spiral groove of the disc 33. Then the handle III is turned to rotate the plate II and the disc 38 mounted thereon. As the disc It turns the chamois III! will be moved along the groove of the disc 33, by the rod 08 moving inwards into the tube 01. In this way the. groove of the disc may be easily dried.

The dry wiper may be used in another way:

The tube 01 may be drawn out from the block I". The catches ll, 82 and 83 may be rendered inoperative by removing the springs II. Then the disc 88 may be held stationary while the knob III is turned to cause the pointed element I02 to move around in the stationary groove of the disc 22, and to cause the chamois III to wipe the groove dry. In the latter operation, th driving means which includes the handle iii and the bevel gears H2 and III is not needed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to .pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said illmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool. means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool. and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated.

2. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fiuids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said film cartridge holder including a cartridge support adjacent a strip which is spaced from and mounted upon another strip in turn mounted on the end wall of said tank, and a knife device for cutting the inner end of the film free from the film cartridge operative in the space between said strips.

3. A daylight loading developing tank,comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fiuids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said film cartridge holder including a cartridge support adjacent a strip which is spaced from and mounted upon another strip in turn mounted on the end wall of said tank, and a knife device for cutting the inner end of the film free from the film cartridge operative in the space between said strips, said knife device including a knife blade slidably mounted in tracks mounted in the ends of the space of said strips, a stem for supporting said knife blade, 9. tube encasing said stem, a cap slidable on the tube and connected on said stem, and means urging said cap to hold the knife blade in an inoperative position.

4. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a. spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said filmspool comprising end discs having spirals upon their adjacent faces, and means for releasably holding said end discs together in predetermined positions so that they may be separated when desired.

5. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool,- a shaft coaxial with filmspoolpmeans "outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means'mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral'of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of Said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said means for rotating the filmspool comprising a hollow shaft coaxiallyconnected with one side of the filmspool and extending through said tank and rotatively supported and adapted to be rotated at its outer end.

6. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening onto the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with film-spool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said means for rotating the filmspool comprising a hollow shaft coaxially connected with one side of the filmspool and extending through said tank and rotatively supported and adapted to be rotated at its outer end, and said means for fixedly holding the filmspool including a set screw for holding said tubular shaft from turning.

7. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through,

a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said means for rotating the filmspool comprising a hollow shaft coaxially connected with one side of the filmspool and extending through said tank and rotatively supported and adapted to be rotated at its outer end, said means for rotating said shaft including a solid shaft engaging through said tubular shaft, means for coupling said solid shaft with said first mentioned shaft, and means for turning solid shaft.

8. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fiuids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be .developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank'for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said follower means comprising tubes extending at right angles through said shaft, rods slidably in said tubes, a member extending across the ends of said rods and having its ends and engaging in said spiral grooves.

9. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film" cartridge holder for film,to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, said follower means comprising tubes extending at right angles through said shaft, rods slidably in said tubes, a member extended across the ends of said rods and having its ends and engaging in said spiral grooves, said catch comprising a bracket mounted upon said member and provided with a pivotally mounted lever having a pin adapted to penetrate the film, and a spring urging said lever into operative position.

10. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fluids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through,

a spiral fiimspool rotatlvely mounted in said tank. means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said filmto pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, and means adjacent said filmspool for pushing the film in said filmspool and operating simultaneously with said follower means.

11. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fiuids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for mov ing along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when said shaft is rotated, and

means adjacent said filmspool for pushing the film in said filmspool and operating simultane ously with said follower means. comprising sprockets mounted on a shaft rotatively supported and extended from said tank, a film leading tube supported adjacent said sprockets to hold the film on the sprockets, and means for rotating said shaft.

12. A daylight loading developing tank, comprising a lightproof tank having a removable lightproof cover and a lightproof inlet and outlet for developing fiuids and the like, and a lightproof film cartridge holder for film to be developed and having an opening into the top portion of said tank for said film to pass through, a spiral filmspool rotatively mounted in said tank, means operable from the outside of said tank for rotating said filmspool, means operable from the outside of said tank for fixedly holding said filmspool, a shaft coaxial with filmspool, means outside of said tank for rotating said shaft, follower means mounted on said shaft for moving along the spiral of said filmspool, and a catch on said follower means for receiving and holding the outer end of said film to pull the film onto the filmspool when the shaft is rotated, and means adjacent said filmspool for pushing the film in said filmspool and operating simultaneously with said follower means, comprising sprockets mounted on a shaft rotatively sup ported and extended from said tank, a film leading tube supported adjacent said sprockets to hold the film on the sprockets, and means for rotating said shaft, and synchronized with the action of said follower means.

MAX KURT BECKER. 

